Drop counter



Dec. l5 1925 1'. B. SCHIMPFF onor COUNTER v Fned sept. 25, 1924 2 sheds-sneer 1 amado@ TMI-e dem# mf' w l atkotnuga Dec. 15 1925. 1,565,332

` T. B. scHlMPFF uno? COUNTER Filed sept. 25, 1924 2 sheets-snee: 2

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Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES .PATE-NT oF-Ficr..

nner COUNTER.

Application filed September 25, 1924. Serial N'o.f7.39,955.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be itknown that I, Ti-inononn B. Somarrrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county .of Lackai wanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drop Counters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as h* will enable others skilled in the art to which -it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates `to an improved drop counter and more particularly to 'a counter which will be used where games are operated, such as wheels and the like. rlhe object of the invention is to provide a combined drop counter and money collecting device, which will be used in connection with such devices where the person playiiig a certain number will place his money on the corresponding number on the pivoted platform at the top of the counter vso that if he does not win, the person in charge of the chance device will depress the operated mechanism of the counter, thereby causing the platform to drop inwardly so that the money placed thereon will fall into the lower part of the apparatus where it will be collected from time to time by the owne'r .of the chance apparatus.

A further obj-ect of the invention is to provide a drop counter and money collecting device for operators of such devices or other types of devices whereby the money placed by the persons participating in the games will be received and collected in a suitable container in such a manner that the person in charge of the games or such devices will have practically no opportunity for embezzling the funds taken in.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of my application:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my im-" proved drop counter and money receptacle.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through my invention.

Fig. 3 invention.

Fig. 4 is a partial transverse sectional view of my invention; and

Fig. 5is a plan view of the drop platform.

Like characters are used throughout the following specification and the accompanyis a partial en-d elevation of my ing drawings to designate corresponding parte My improved dr( p counter and money receptacle comprises a substantially rectangular-shap ed body 1 which tapers downward at 2 and is provided at its lowermost portion with a hinged door 3 which is retained in closed position by means of lock 4.

A pair of inverted V-shaped battles 5 eX- tend longitudinally within the body 1 in spaced relationship, one above the other.

A .drop platform 6 is hinged at 7 at the upper end of the body 1, and is provided on its upper surface with a plurality of numbered spaces, which may be few or manv, as desired. A pair of arcuate slots 8 are formed in the opposite ends of the body 1 and are adapted to guide the outwardlyextended ends of the crank 9 carried by the drop platform 6, the said ends of the crank extending mit a slight distance beyond the ends ofthe box or 'receptacle l.

A pair of links 10 are pivoted to the free ends of the crank 9 one at each end of the receptacle 1, and have their opposite ends swivelly connected to the studs `11 which are slidably mounted in the slotted guide members 12 at either end of the receptacle.

Suitably supported angle members 13 are attached at the four vcorners of the boi; 1 and extend downwardly therefrom, where adjacent members are connected-by means of base members 14.

A pivoted foot operated mechanism comprises side bars 15 which are pivoted at 1b on the upwardly extended studs 17 on the base members 14. The free ends of the bars 15 are connected by means of the foot rail 1S.

'Link members 19 connect the oppositely disposed side members with the studs which are slidably mounted in the guide members 12.

Coil springs 2O are positioned between the said side members 15 and the rear standards 13 and normally tend to hold the several operating parts in elevated position so thatthe drop platform 6 will extend flush with the top of the box 1.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that when the foot rail 18 is depressed the drop platform 6 will drop or angle inwardly within the boX 1 due to the several connecting links, and when the foot is removed from the foot rail 18 the drop platform will rise to its normal position, due to the action of the spring 20.

The inode of operation of my device is as follows: It will be understood that these drop counters are to be used with such devices as wheels or other devices, which are used at amusement parks, fairs, Carnivals, bazaars, and the like.

Assuming that five persons are playing, before the wheel is spun they place their money on five of the numbered spaces which are on the drop counter. The wheel is then spun and the money is left on the counter unt-il the wheel stops. Should it stop at a number corresponding with one of the selected numbers on the counter, the winner is given his prize. immediately the attendant steps on the foot rail 18, thereby causing the platform to drop or angle into box 1 so that the money placed thereon will drop into the lower portion of the locked receptacle. In the event that there were no winners the same operation would be followed out.

it will, therefore, be obvious that the attendant would have little or no chance of embezzliirg` funds belonging to the owner of the apparatus. A certain amount of change would necessarily be given to the attendant before he started to work and this amount would have to be returned when his day was completed. All the profits received would therefore be retained in the locked box until the owner or authorized person came and removed them.

Many minor changes in detail of construction may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A drop counter and money receptacle comprising a substantially rectangular shaped body portion, a door hinged at the bottom thereof, a platform hinged at the top of said b'idy member, means for supporting said body member, said body member being provided with oppositely disposed arcuate slots in its ends, a foot operated device pivoted to said supporting means, a crank connected with said drop platform and extending through said arcuate slots, a link connected between said foot operated mechanism and said drop platform, whereby when said foot mechanism is depressed the drop platform will also be depressed.

2. The combination as set forth in claim l, and guide members positioned at the opposite ends of said standards adapted to cooperate with said foot operated mechanism and connecting links.

3. The combination as set forth in claim l, and resilient means for normally holding said foot operated mechanism and drop platform in raised position.

4. A combined drop counter and money receptacle comprising a hollow body p0rtion, spaced baffles positioned thereon, a door hinged at the lower end of said body, a drop platform provided with suitably identiiied spaces on its upper surface and hinged at the upper edge of said body, interconnected standards at the ends of said body, the opposite ends of said body being provided with arcuate guide slots, a crank connected to said drop platform adapted to extend through said slots, slotted guide members positioned at the opposite ends of said standards, a pivoted foot operated device, interconnected links between said foot operated device and said platform adapted to be guided by said guide members, and resilient means for normally holding said foot operated device and drop platform in raised position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THEODORE B. SCHIMPFF. 

